Louisiana Sportsbooks + Sports Betting Sites

Louisiana does not have any online sports betting laws. However, the state has a set of outdated laws that are effective in dealing with unlicensed and illegal live bookies. A number of offshore online bookies accept Louisiana residents, and the state has absolutely no law preventing its residents from betting on sports events at these offshore online bookies.

Many Louisiana residents are unaware that sports betting on offshore online bookies is not really against their state’s laws. This page tries to clarify online gambling legality issues for the benefit of Louisiana residents. Besides providing a brief overview of online sports betting laws, we have provided a list of safe and legal offshore online sportsbooks for Louisiana residents.

Is it Legal to Bet on Sports in Louisiana?

Betting on sports events is not regulated in Louisiana although a few unlicensed bookies accept bets from Louisiana residents. Since Louisiana does not license anybody to run a bookie business, residents can take it for granted that live bookies are running their businesses illegally. They should therefore steer clear of live bookies, as it’s not worth risking your bankroll with someone who could have that cash confiscated at any time by state law enforcement.

Online sports betting, however, is a different cup of tea in Louisiana. The state does not have any online sports betting laws. Although there are a number of offshore online bookies accepting Louisiana residents, the state has no laws preventing residents from signing up at these online bookies and placing bets on the outcomes of sports events. In fact, it is 100% legal for Louisiana residents to sign up for the services of online sports betting sites, provided these sites operate from offshore locations. If bettors stick to the online bookies we recommend, they can look forward to the ultimate betting experience in a safe and secure atmosphere, all from the comfort of their own homes.

If you’re skeptical about this assertion, look no further than the Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS 14:90) and you will see that gambling is defined by LA as the operation of a book or the accepting of a wager, not the placing of one:

“Gambling is the intentional conducting, or directly assisting in the conducting, as a business, of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person risks the loss of anything of value in order to realize a profit.”

Further, in RS 14:90.3, the law gets into online, Internet-based gambling laws, which would also cover online sports betting, though no mention of “sports” is in the documentation whatsoever. Again, only the operator of an online sportsbook is targeted by this law, not the customers of said book:

“Gambling by computer is the intentional conducting…of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person risks the loss of anything of value in order to realize a profit when accessing the Internet, World Wide Web, or any part thereof by way of any computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, or any server.”

Louisiana residents will not get into trouble for betting on sports events at offshore online bookies simply because the state has absolutely no online sports betting laws that concern out-of-state, offshore bookmakers. The gambling laws of Louisiana were written basically to curb and control the activities of illegal live bookies and to save customers from getting cheated by them.

The state has not yet upgraded its laws to include online sports betting, though with the overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), you can expect that change in the near future. But even when it does, offshore bookmakers will be excluded from oversight, because they operate overseas and completely outside of US and LA jurisdiction.

In other words, Louisiana residents using offshore online sports betting services will not get into trouble with the law simply because these offshore online bookies are not based in Louisiana and do not violate Louisiana laws in any way. They are all licensed in offshore gambling jurisdictions and stick to the highest and best industry standards. The only people who will get into trouble in Louisiana are those running illegal bookie businesses inside state borders.

Betting Mistakes To Avoid In Louisiana

Betting Too Many Parlays.

Parlays are multiple bets at once that you put on one bet slip. The problem bettors get into at times is being a little too risky and betting too many parlays. Parlays are already one of the hardest wager types to win so keep it simple when betting with them or you could find yourself trying to play catch up, which is never a good thing when your money is on the line.

Not Doing Enough Research

Not doing enough research can hurt you in just about any instance where research is necessary and gambling is one of those things. A lot of bettors tend to rely on “gut feelings” and lucky numbers but if you take the time to look up some tips, and study what you are betting on, you will help your odds, even if the lines don’t show it.

Betting On Your Favorite Teams

The emotion involved when betting on your favorite team as a sports fan can really hurt you in the long run. You have a relationship, in a sense, with your favorite sports teams and your fandom could cloud your judgment of the actual contest. My advice would be to keep your favorite teams out of your wagering habits.

Where Can Louisiana Residents Bet Sports Online?

Fortunately for Louisiana residents, there is no dearth of safe and legal sports betting options for them. Bettors in Louisiana are free to sign up at any of the legal offshore online bookies we have listed on this page. Our team of experts has carefully researched each of these offshore online bookies before adding them to this list. You can rest assured that the following are safe, secure, top-rated, and highly reputed online sports betting brands.

Bovada Sportsbook has made online sports betting very easy and convenient for US bettors. Thanks to features such as live betting, mobile betting, in-play betting, and live video streaming, online sports bettors can place bets not only online, but also on their mobile devices.

Bovada Sportsbook is ideal for US bettors because it offers fair odds on a wide range of league events involving soccer, football, hockey, baseball, and basketball, to mention just a few. Bettors can also place a wide range of lines, spreads, straights, parlays, and other types of bets on international sports events.

Bovada also includes an online casino and an online poker room, and bettors can access all these gambling services via one account. Since Bovada covers major league matches, sports events, and tournaments in North America, it is home to a lively community of online bettors. And that extends to Louisiana, where new members who sign up today can get a valuable $250 sports welcome bonus to help them get their wagering careers off to a quick start.

Bovada is operated by Meadway Leisure Limited and is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

SportsBetting is home to the best betting odds on a wide selection of sports such as football, soccer, hockey, golf, tennis, baseball, basketball, racing, and so on. This online bookie also offers betting options on political and celebrity events. Besides housing one of the largest communities of online sports bettors, SportsBetting presents several types of bets such as lines, spreads, props, futures, totals, parlays, teams, and more.

The customer care service at Sports Betting is some of the best in the business. Well-trained and courteous representatives are available 24 hours a day, and Louisiana bettors can get in touch with SportsBetting’s helpline toll-free via 1-888-843-9027 or live chat. They can also send an email to cs@sportsbetting.ag, though the turnaround time for email help is about a day, whereas the others are nearly instantaneous.

Besides its awesome wager selection and customer service, one of the best features of SportsBetting is its Lifetime Bonus program of 25% deposit matches worth up to $1000. This bonus can be applied to your bankroll every single time you make a fresh deposit to refill your account.

The best wagering options on a wide range of markets such as football, soccer, baseball, boxing, auto racing, golf, football, and others are available at 5Dimes Sportsbook, one of the most US-friendly online bookies in the industry. The online sportsbook offers the best odds on league events such as NFL, NBA, and others as well as college sports events and international events. 5Dimes Sportsbook even has odds on obscure sports such as European Water Polo, billiards, darts, and more.

To make this more interesting, 5Dimes Sportsbook offers different types of wagers such as lines, spreads, monsters, if bets, under/over bets, parlays, straights, and others. In fact, unlike most books in the industry, a big part of 5Dimes’ allure is that it allows players to essentially create their own wager terms through buying lines, and 5Dimes’ alternate spreads are famous for offering bettors the most options on any given matchup.

5Dimes Sportsbook also has an attractive promotions page, packed with irresistible offers such as bonuses, their unparalleled Reduced Juice program, cash backs, rebates, and more. 5Dimes’ service is among the industry’s very best, with customer care representatives willing to assist bettors 24 hours per day, 365 days of the year. New LA customers who sign up at 5Dimes now can get a 50% deposit-match welcome bonus worth up to $520.

BookMaker offers a licensed and regulated sportsbook out of San Jose, Costa Rica, and the company has been in the industry since 1985. They have been offering a one-of-a-kind safe and lucrative sports betting outlet for over three decades, and that longevity is a clear indicator of the reliability and professionalism of this sportsbook. The site is easy to use and players of all skill levels can join without feeling like it’s catered to one particular group.

You seriously cannot go wrong with the Bookmaker Sportsbook, so sign up now and enjoy all they have to offer Louisiana players. You can even create an account from your smartphone due to their mobile sportsbook feature, which just adds yet another dimension to the simplicity of sports gambling at BookMaker Sportsbook. If you live in Louisiana and sign up today at BookMaker, you’ll even get the opportunity to get a 15% deposit-match bonus. While this might seem low, BookMaker’s bonus is a cash bonus, not a free-play bonus, and this means that the terms and conditions of said perk are not as strict as those available elsewhere.

BetDSI was established back in 1998, just before the new millennium. Over their 20-plus years of service, they have rapidly become one of the best overall sportsbooks on the Internet, and they accept players from all over the United States, including the great state of Louisiana. BetDSI offers an incredible selection of sports gambling options that include lines on any sport at the professional and collegiate level, both domestically and internationally. In addition to their incredible sportsbook, BetDSI also offers options for a racebook, a casino, and entertainment gambling as well.

BetDSI is one of the best sportsbooks you could possibly choose, so sign up for an account ASAP. If you have any more questions about BetDSI’s world-class service, you can take advantage of their 24/7 customer service, which has a reputation for being incredibly attentive and friendly. Signing up at BetDSI could be one of the best decisions you ever make, and new members can get a 100% sports welcome bonus worth up to $500, which is one of the few 100% bonuses anywhere in the industry.

Accepting wagers of money or anything else of value on the outcome of sports events is not legal in Louisiana. But it is worth noting that the laws were framed to eliminate illegal live bookie businesses from the state. Anybody running illegal bookie businesses in the state is violating the state’s gambling laws, but those who simply place wagers are exempt from these.

Simultaneously, the state has absolutely no online sports betting laws. While the state warns residents against signing up at offshore online bookies, it has no proper laws to prevent residents from signing up at offshore online sportsbooks. For more information about LA’s gambling laws, please visit their official legislative portal here.

With the overturn of PASPA, Louisiana – being a relatively large gambling destination in the country – will almost certainly roll out in-state sports betting by sometime next year. Of course, the proposed laws governing this – HB 245 and SB 266 – will have to be approved by the state legislature, and the issue may even require a referendum before sports betting can go live at in-state horse racing tracks and/or casino facilities.

A number of offshore online sportsbooks accept Louisiana residents, but none of them are regulated by Louisiana. This is because the state has not legalized sports betting in its jurisdiction and does not have the proper legal machinery to license and regulate bookmaking companies.

However, it will be a mistake to think that offshore online sportsbooks are illegal just because they are not licensed and regulated in Louisiana. Although there are a number of rogue sites in the industry, the offshore online bookies we have handpicked for you are the best in the industry. You can rest assured of having a safe and secure online betting experience at these offshore online bookies because they are all licensed and regulated in remote gambling jurisdictions. Besides, they are all brands belonging to prestigious and reputed gambling companies.

The Potential For Sports Gambling Revenue In Louisiana

Louisiana residents are fond of betting on sports such as football, basketball, horse racing, baseball, and boxing. The state’s unregulated sports betting industry has plenty of revenue-generating potential, but right now, Louisiana bettors have to turn to offshore sports betting sites to bet on their favorite sports.

The state is home to the NFL’s Saints and the NBA’s Hornets. LA also has a minor baseball team called The Zephyrs, and several local collegiate teams – like LSU and the Tulane Green Wave – that you can also wager on at overseas sportsbooks. Being the boxing capital of the US, Louisiana hosts a number of boxing events, too. With such a hearty athletic presence in the state, it’s clear that once land-based sports betting is legalized in LA, the state and local economy could certainly benefit from revenue on the multi-billion-dollar handle that Louisiana sports bettors turn each year.

Louisiana Online Sportsbooks FAQ’s

How Do I Collect My Deposit Bonus in Louisiana?

The key to collecting your deposit bonus in Louisiana is to check out the rollover requirement for the bonus you are using. If there is, say, a 5x rollover on your bonus, that requirement simply means that before you cash out any associated winnings, you have to wager the full amount of the deposit (and bonus to which it applies) five times. For example, if you put in $100 and have a 50% bonus with a 5X rollover, that’s $150. Before you can withdraw winnings from this deposit, you’ll have to make at least $750 worth of bets at your online Louisiana sportsbook of choice.

What Currencies Can I Use To Fund My Account?

It depends on the gambling site you are using, but you can typically fund your account in Louisiana with your credit or debit card as well as money orders, cashier’s checks, and bank wires. All the top offshore sportsbooks serving Louisiana customers also accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Litecoin, DASH, and Bitcoin Cash.

How Old Do I Have To Be To Bet At Online Casinos In Louisiana?

Louisiana’s legal gambling age is 21 years old, but the required age at online sportsbooks is just 18 years old. However, be warned: Even though it is not against the law, if you sign up underage at an offshore book, you will have your account suspended and your winnings and deposit balances forfeited with zero possible recourse. Don’t take that risk – make sure to only wager at online books if you’re 18 or older, as these sites take their terms of service extremely seriously.

Where Is The Sports Betting Revenue Being Spent?

In the proposed plans, the revenue attained from sports betting would go directly to the children. Louisiana is one of the worst states when it comes to children in poverty and the state wants this to be fixed, or at least assisted, from sports betting tax money. The money would help pay for early childcare for children under the age of 5 so their parents can work without wondering about what the kids are up to.

Can I Bet On The Saints And Pelicans?

Of course. There are online sportsbooks who will offer betting lines and odds based all around the Saints and Pels. With the recent success of the Saints, even with a blown call in the playoffs, it seems like a smart bet to favor them. For the Pels, the team has not had much success as of late but you can always bet against a team too. If college is more your game, look for LSU lines, as their baseball team has made the College World Series a handful of times in the last decade.

What Is The Betting Age In Louisiana?

Though you can hit the track at age 18, you must be 21 to participate in sports betting activities. The regulations are not finalized for sports betting yet but it is believed they will take a strong stance on this. Offshore sportsbooks allow for you to wager on the local teams from Louisiana at age 18 but we recommend you waiting until you are 2

How Much Do Online Sportsbooks Cost?

For Louisiana residents, online sportsbooks are free to join. No site should require a welcoming fee – in fact, the best of the sites will actually offer you a promotion to joining. Generally, they will match 50-100% of your first deposit and add it to your account. With free offshore sportsbooks, Louisiana residents can gamble on whatever team they like at any moment.

What States Near Louisiana Have Regulated Sports Betting?

We understand if the online sportsbook game isn’t for you even if they do offer some of the best options and promotions. But, if you want to be able to hang out in a lounge and gamble with like-minded players, you should venture into Mississippi. If you are near I-10, the entire Gulf Coast is flooded with casinos that operate sportsbooks. For those in the north near Alexandria or Monroe, just head east into Natchez or Vicksburg, respectively, and you will find options for land-based sports betting.